The woman who bashed a pickup truck in front of her house with an axe broke her silence today (Feb 20) saying that she merely defended her right and, at the same time, suggested that the Bangkok governor and the chief of Prawet district office should jointly pay compensation for the damaged vehicle to its owner.

The alleged truck basher as she was known for the clip which went viral in the social media showing she bashing a pickup truck in front of her house in Seri Villa housing estate off Srinakharin road on Feb 18, Ms Rattanachat Saengyoktrakarn and her sister, Maneerat, held a press conference today in the company of her neighbours in response to the clip.

She said that the pickup truck in question blocked the front gate of her house, making it impossible her to get her car out. She said she tried to push the vehicle away but it didn’t move because the owner set the gear-shifter in park position or put on the brake, adding that she pressed her car horn for almost half an hour to alert the truck owner but to no avail.

Desperate to get the truck moved from her house, Ms Rattanachat said she called 191 police hotline and 1555 City Hall hotline, but no police or officials showed up.

“We can leave our house anytime we wish. You cannot block our entry and exit which is our right. We exercise our lawful right to move away the blockade. For the damages and repairs, they have to demand from the City Hall,” said the houseowner.

She blamed the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Prawet district office for causing hardship to residents in the housing estate by granting permission to developers to build markets despite the fact that the housing estate is a residential zone.

She went on saying that residents in the housing estate have lost their peaceful environment and surroundings ever since markets were allowed to be established in the housing estate, with delivery trucks getting in and out of the estate, increased air pollution and noises.

Lawsuits have been brought against the BMA and the district office with the administrative court, resulting to injunctions being issued by the court to protect the residents and for city officials to mitigate the hardships caused to the residents. But the injunctions have never been enforced and the abuses carry on, said Ms Rattanachat.

Another resident of Seri housing estate said she experienced the similar problem with Ms Rattanachat as shoppers frequently park their vehicle in front of her house.

“Once I got a leg injury but could not go to the hospital because there was a car blocking the entrance of my house,” she said.

In the meantime, Prawet district chief Mr Thanasith Methpanmuang defended that Seri Villa is not a housing estate under the care of a legal entity and it is located in a Yellow Zone where a market can be set up legally.

He also maintained that there is no law restricting the number of markets to be set up in the zone.

Mr Thanasit said the district office was not ignorant with the problems of the residents and had driven back all the vendors into the markets so that they would not block the roads in the housing estate or blocking the entrances of houses.

Ratchanikorn Lertwassana, the owner of the pickup truck parked in front of the Saengyoktrakarn family’s house said she thought it was a deserted house.

“I just parked there for a short period of time. Why couldn’t she wait? I admitted I was wrong for parking in front of her house, but she has no right to damage my car,” Ms Ratchanikorn said.

Ms Ratchanikorn filed charge against Ms Rattanachat and Ms Maneerat for damaging her properties, while the Saengyoktrakarn sisters accused the former of giving false statement and defamation.

The pick-up owner did hear the horn blasting for 30+ minutes but as she wasn't finished with her shopping she didn't go back to move her truck...

IMO despite how upset and inconvenienced she was, she should have smashed one windows, open the car and release the handbrake to move the car out of her driveway instead of doing such damages to vent her anger...

The vid pissed me off. 4 minutes of steady shooting of nothing but a horn being blown, then when the action started the videographer couldn't point to the action, most of the time shooting the ground or surrounds.

Anywho...
If it had been me, I would have used my car to gently shove the offending vehicle out of the way. Let the problem be the general traffic's.
I don't know how easy it is to push an suv sideways though...Never tried.

Anywho...
If it had been me, I would have used my car to gently shove the offending vehicle out of the way. Let the problem be the general traffic's.
I don't know how easy it is to push an suv sideways though...Never trie

Again have you followed the story? Her car was in her car park with the gate closed. The car parked on the street in front of her gate hence making a T, to gently push it out of the way you would reverse or go forward into the car and attempt to push it where? The car was in park with the emergency break on parked in the street right at her driveway and its a nice house. How can she get out? Two old maids and their mom makes it all the better here in the LOS.

the owners of the illegal markets are paying off a whole raft of people

the axe wielder and family have won a court case to have the markets removed , but nothing happens

until the mad bitch with the axe turns up - too bad she didn't choose a mercedes or BMW to remodel

.BANGKOK — What years of legal fights and court orders failed to accomplish was achieved by several axe swings on a car. Bangkok’s governor announced Wednesday that five street markets operating illegally in eastern Bangkok must go down within a week.

Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang told reporters the markets – which surround the mansion of a family that spent years in court trying to have them moved – must come to an end because they never had relevant permits in the first place, though a former official in charge of the area said the move is unlikely to happen.

“These unlicensed markets must shut down and stop selling immediately,” Aswin said. “If they still resist, the Prawet District Office will file charges.”

The five markets, which without permission have been operating in full view of local officials for more than two decades, only made headlines this week because the Saengyoktrakarns went full ballistic on a truck parked illegally in front of their home on Sunday.

Truck owner Rotchanikorn Lertwassana said she parked it there to go shopping at the nearby markets.

The incident, and amateur footage of the axe and pipe attacks on the Nissan, went viral on social media where many saw it as yet another proof of impunity enjoyed by business owners and the failure of officials to enforce laws.

Prawet district director Thanasit Metpunmuang said Wednesday the markets – owned by five different businesspeople – were built without permit and refused to close down even after the Saengyoktrakarn family won court orders to have them evicted.

Thanasit said market operators have filed for a court injunction to keep the shops open and that officials cannot do anything until a verdict has been reached. The markets remained open Thursday. Thanasit could not be reached for comment as of publication time.

Thanit Tanbuaklee, former deputy director of Prawet district office, said he doesn’t believe current officials can do much about the markets. He predicted an agreement would be reached in which the market will continue operating under tighter cleanliness, noise and parking regulations.

“It not possible,” Thanit, who left the post in December to join the tourism department, said in an interview. “They will have to ask for cooperation. Right now it’s just big news. But judging from the conditions, they can’t just close down.”

Thanit said the district office under his watch did not stand idle. He said local officials filed charges against the market owners “many times” and that they had been repeatedly punished – though the fine only consists of 5,000 baht each time.

“We can’t make them stop. We can only fine them, that’s all,” he said. “And they fined the owners, not the vendors. It’s only 5,000 baht.”

Manaam I think I saw an edited version, on FB and Thai news that was ok to look at. I heard a few applause when she started to smash the truck, there are mixed feelings on this story, some side with the house owner, others with the truck owner.

I saw another vid where a pick up driver rammed a sedan blocking him in a car park... It didn't went well but maybe he was lacking space to get the required momentum....as for the gentle push technique I saw a randge rover doing that to another car in in China, not great results but he managed to exit...

Please if you're in a mall car park or at the airport, don't do that as the security usually have the tools to move the car

BANGKOK, 22 February 2018 (NNT) – Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has setup a fact finding committee to look into claims Prawet district officials neglected complaints over land usage for markets in the area. The governor of Bangkok has ordered a full investigation into an incident resulting from the markets and temporary closure of the spaces until probes are concluded.

Bangkok Governor, Pol Gen Assawin Kwanmuang, led a contingent of Prawet district officials and police to Soi Srinakarin 55 to inspect the area in front of the home of Boonsri Saengyoktrakarn, where a truck was attacked by a member of Boonsri’s household due to frustration over frequent obstructive parking. It was later discovered that Boonsri has made multiple complaints over the five markets that were established surrounding her home and how they encouraged buyers to park in front of her driveway. While not meeting the owner of the house during the visit, the governor said he had spoken to her on the phone and promised to step up work to uncover the truth of the matter.

Initial checks have found that Suan Luang, Ple and Ying Nara markets were erected in violation of their land usage authorization while Roong Wanich and Rom Luang did not have any permission. The latter two have been ordered to cease operation until February 28, but the first three have been allowed to continue in the interests of the vendors.

NACC Chairman, Pol Gen Watcharapol Prasarnrajakij, disclosed that a committee is being established to look into claims that Prawet area officials failed to act on complaints lodged against the markets and he assured that it would pursue the matter through to Bangkok’s highest office if necessary.

Prawet district takes further action against five unauthorized markets

BANGKOK, 23rd February 2018 (NNT) – Prawet District has summoned the owners of five illegally operating markets to hear charges, and has set a deadline for three of them operating without any licensing to shut down by February 28.

Prawet district director Thanasit Metphanmuang has summoned the owners of all five markets as well as convenience stores set up in Seri Villa village surrounding the home of Boonsri Saengyoktrakarn to hear charges against their operations. Four of the owners and the operator of a supermarket have now heard the charges with only the owner of Ple Market yet to appear. The markets reportedly caused such a disturbance to Boonsri’s home that a member of her household was recently videoed attacking a pickup truck that had been parked in their driveway.

Three of the five markets, Suan Luang, Roong Wanich and Rom Luang, have been ordered to completely cease operation by February 28 as they have no licensing for commercial activity or even the erection of buildings. Ple Market and Ying Nara have commercial activity licenses but are not permitted to sell fresh food and have been ordered to remedy the situation within seven days.

The market owners have expressed readiness to comply as well as to respond to any public complaints. Protection is being provided to Boonsri and several other homes in the meantime due to concerns of conflict.

However, the authorities are waiting on a court ruling to determine if land in the matter is strictly for residential use or commercial use. If it is decided the area is residential, all five markets will have to uproot themselves and the district office will help relocate them to a new area.

Thanasit said he is not worried about a growing social media uproar over the case as he believes it will resolve soon as it is already being considered by a court.

All the markets remain closed with the three that don't have any licensing now devoid of any stalls or booths. The supermarket across from Boonsri’s home has however remained open as it is still being investigated for any violations.

^^ Reminds me of a friend of mine bought a big house in a luxury gated estate years ago. Her next door neighbor bought three lots across the street and built a hospital. She and others were angry but nothing was done to stop the problem.

[Refers to cases of two women using an axe to attack a pickup truck parked in front of their house. Those women received a support from the public as it became clear the area they lived in had several large markets that were operating illegally with full knowledge of city officials. Social media used #teamaunties to show support for these women. After the publicity, government agencies were forced to investigate the illegal markets that were causing traffic jams.

The axe over a map of the nation might suggest that the aunties’ success in taking matters into their own hands to expose corruption might be a model to be applied for many issues in Thailand.]

VENDORS FROM an illegal market that was ordered closed on February 28 along with four other markets near the Seri Villa housing project in Bangkok’s Prawet district set up stalls on the roadside in the area yesterday, according to a post published by Ajapim Aroonlucksana on Facebook.

The roadside stalls were located only 50 metres from the house of two “furious aunties”, Rattanachat Seangyoktrakan, 61, and Ranee Saengyoktrakan, 57, who made headlines by attacking the pickup of a customer of the market.

Prawet district chief Thanasit Metphanmuang said the section of the road where the stalls were set up was private property and not under the city’s control.

He also said the crowd seen in the photos included 20 food vendors from the markets, which had hosted 500 to 600 vendors, members of the public who exercised at a nearby park and then shopped for food, and outside vendors.

He said he was negotiating with them and had instructed Thesakij city law enforcers not to use violence against them.

“I don’t want to see them arrested and fined because I sympathise with people struggling and trying to make ends meet,” said Thanasit, who himself had to pay a Bt5,000 fine levied by the Central Administrative Court for failing to control the five markets after the Seangyoktrakans complained about congestion in the area.

The five markets had operated for years without permits, but were ordered to close temporarily by Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on February 21, pending a Central Administrative Court ruling on a complaint filed by residents against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and its officials.

The issue gained notoriety after Rattanachat and Ranee assaulted a woman’s pickup with an axe and shovel because it was parked blocking the entrance to their home last month.
Complaints have been filed in regards to illegal parking, noise and other neighbourhood problems stemming from the markets’ activities.

I'm with #TeamAunties. Good on them for defending their property and exposing the problem - 5 markets without the necessary permits in a residential area. I wouldn't have bashed the car to that degree, but I probably would've done something.

Reminds me of several times when I'm at my parents' house. That area is still residential, but very near a commercial zone. Several times, people would park in front of the driveway or walkway. If I'm there and the owner of the vehicle is nearby, I ask the owner to move his/her vehicle. One time a tricycle driver didn't want to move his trike - I had to ask him several times and good thing that I had my two dogs (soi dogs, very fierce) barking behind me. Heh.

Court rules on removal of markets around home of woman who attacked a truck

BANGKOK, 17th May 2018 (NNT) – The Central Administrative Court has ruled in favor of Boonsri Saengyoktrakarn, who made headlines when she attacked a pickup truck out of frustration over the intrusion of an unauthorized market operating near her home in Seri Villa village.

The Central Administrative Court has ordered that all five markets surrounding Boonsri’s home be removed within 60 days and that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) pay compensation for seven years of disturbance, from 2010 to February 2018, at a rate of 368,400 baht to each member of the Saengyoktrakan family.

Boonsri had filed her case against Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Assawin Kwanmuang, the director of Prawet district, the Prawet district office and the BMA, accusing them all of allowing the five markets to be established and to operate illegally.

The court acknowledged that the markets violated Seri Villa’s land usage permission, which is exclusively residential, as they constituted commercial establishments. It ordered that all construction permits for the markets be revoked and compensation be paid to the four members of Boonsri’s family. The payments have an annual interest rate of 7.5 percent per year starting from September 30 2013. Moreover, authorities are to evict any vendors setting up or engaging in business in the area within 30 days.

The Bangkok Governor voiced his agreement that the five markets be removed within 60 days but said he will appeal against the compensation payment ruling.

On probes into the actions of officials involved in the case, seven have been accused of minor disciplinary infractions and face punitive measures that include salary cuts. The seven include a former Prawet district office director and the area’s head of the environment.

Boonsri has thanked the court for its mercy and justice and bid BMA officials see her case as an example for other areas. She said she will not yet remove various signs posted in front of her house lamenting the markets to allow other citizens to learn about the case.

........... and that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) pay compensation for seven years of disturbance, from 2010 to February 2018, at a rate of 368,400 baht to each member of the Saengyoktrakan family.

Complete waste of tax payers money and utterly disproportionate. The families of people who have died as a result of negligence would receive but a tiny fraction of what is being paid to just one family member....over a parking issue?

At the end of the day these old ladies wilfully caused criminal damage to the property of others, that fact doesn't change no matter how big their house is... They could have simply called a cop to slap a ticket on the offending vehicle and/or put up a huge sign warning not to park there, if the problem was as bad as they claim.

Complete waste of tax payers money and utterly disproportionate. The families of people who have died as a result of negligence would receive but a tiny fraction of what is being paid to just one family member....over a parking issue?

At the end of the day these old ladies wilfully caused criminal damage to the property of others, that fact doesn't change no matter how big their house is... They could have simply called a cop to slap a ticket on the offending vehicle and/or put up a huge sign warning not to park there, if the problem was as bad as they claim.

Can you articulate why my geo location is relevant to this story or what I posted?

And, while you're there, can you lay out the argument why a rich Thai family causing criminal damage and wielding an axe in broad daylight should be given millions of baht of public money when it would be better spent elsewhere on something worthwhile, for eg a better planning system, schools, hospitals etc?

they were being fucked over by a corrupt market mafia. From one to two, from two to three, from three to four, you get the idea. Its ingrained corruption at its best in the lower levels, but still quite lucrative.

Check out Don Muang district and the raid on the New Market. Former capt. Suntana is finally in the spotlight. Should be 30 years of patronage to that name.